Mark Hanna

[Flying Lawyer]

Doesn’t time go quickly.
It’s almost unbelievable that it was five years ago today, day and date, that my good friend Mark Hanna died.

http://www.ofmc.co.uk/images/mah.jpg


Mark was very seriously injured on Saturday 25th September in an accident on approach to landing at Sabadell near Barcelona where he was to fly the Hispano Buchon (Spanish Me 109) in a major airshow. He passed away the following evening, Sunday 26th.

Mark was one of Britain’s most experienced display pilots of historic military aircraft. Taught to fly at sixteen by his father, the great Ray Hanna, in a T-34 from a small coral strip in the Philippines, he had a successful career as a fighter pilot, flying Hunters and then F4-Phantoms with 111, 56, 29 and 23 squadrons - including a tour in the Falklands.

Mark left the RAF in 1988 to run the Old Flying Machine Company which he and Ray set up in 1981 and, as well as earning a justified reputation as one of the best display pilots on the airshow circuit, he was aerial advisor and chief pilot for numerous films, including Empire of the Sun, Air America, Tomorrow Never Dies, Memphis Belle, Piece of Cake and Saving Private Ryan. He’d flown over 4000 hours (2300 historic aircraft) and had flown more than 100 different types.

http://www.ofmc.co.uk/images/spitfire.jpg

Mark was undoubtedly a natural, but his widely-admired outstanding skill wasn’t just the product of his God-given talent but of total dedication to flying which was his greatest passion.

By the time he came to fly 434 for the first time, he’d not only proved himself in the Harvard we shared but had probably read everything there was to read about flying a Spitfire – and knew the Mk 9's Pilots Notes backwards. He waited patiently (or, more accurately, ‘quietly’) for Ray to say he was ready. I vividly remember him almost bursting with excitement when he told me ‘Father says I can fly the Spitfire on Sunday evening after the show if the wind’s OK.’ How we watched the weather that afternoon! Mark’s luck was in – conditions were near perfect – and he flew a faultless first flight.

The ‘Golden Boy’ of historic aviation was a legend in his own lifetime and the historic airshow world lost an outstanding pilot five years ago, but he was more than just an outstanding pilot. Mark's fine qualities as a man were as worthy of admiration as his skills in the air. He was a son and brother of whom the Hanna family were and are entitled to feel very proud, and a sadly-missed friend of whom I have many fond, happy memories.


Tudor Owen

[Tarnished]

A sad day that was.

A great loss all round.

The gathering after his memorial service in the RAF club was an indication of the spirit of the man. Touched a lot of people in his life.

Wouldn't it be great if you could attend your own wake - it is undoubtedly going to be the biggest gathering of one's mates acquired throughout a lifetime.

Maybe you do get to attend ......

God bless, Mark

[BEagle]

I was at Coningsby with Mark - thoroughly nice chap.

A sad loss indeed, Tudor.

[John Farley]

Thank you Tudor

I would like to say that the new type Briefing Mark gave me before flying 434 was quite simply the best that I have ever had from anyone.

A great bloke indeed.

John

[LOMCEVAK]

The anniversary of Mark's tragic accident has been much in my thoughts this weekend. Fortunately, I have many enduring memories of some great, fun flying with a wonderful friend. He is sadly missed. Fondest wishes to all of the Hanna family at this sad time.

Dave

[MLS-12D]

Good post, Tudor.

Does anyone know what actually happened? I heard that it was an inflight fire, but not from a reliable source.

[John Farley]

http://www.mfom.es/ciaiac/publicaciones/informes/1999/1999_059_A_ENG.pdf

[planenuts]

Thanks for the nice words and reminder Tudor. It dosn't seem possible that five years have passed since Mark's untimely death.
He was a very special flyer who thrilled everyone with his exiting displays.
We miss him, and remember him.

Kind regards to his friends, and to his family.

[the egg man]

met mark a few times at the biggin hill airshow years ago at the flying club bar.
a true gent ,very sadly missed.
r.i.p.

[MLS-12D]

Thank you very much for the link to the official report.

If this sort of thing can happen to a pilot of Mark's experience and talent, clearly the rest of us had better be very careful indeed not to get sloppy or complacent in the circuit.

[John Farley]

MLS

I’m sure Ray won’t mind me saying that when we spoke on the phone a few days after the accident both he and I had trouble just accepting that Mark stalled on final through simple inattention or lack of skill.

When I asked Ray about what manoeuvres Mark had done before turning final it seemed to me that there was a chance that a residual vortex from his high g pull could have been lurking in the area. I put Ray in touch with the RAE guys I used to work with on the behaviour of such trailing vortices close to the surface and was pleased to see the Spanish report did not rule out the possibility that Mark might have tripped over one.

[Sir George Cayley]

Anyone who has felt a strange bump at the bottom of a loop will concur with John Farley's comment.

I've been turned through 90degrees behind a C150 on a still air day.

The air is a navigable ocean but like the ocean it is sometimes cruel and unforgiving.

I trust that no-one will take away from Marks commensurate skills by misinterpreting the report.

Sir George Cayley

[G-KEST]

I read the current Aeroplane Monthly and was greatly impressed by the letter from Alex Henshaw on accident investigation findings. It was written following the publication of the Spanish reports on Mark's tragic accident but concerned another fatal accident that happened during Alex's time at Castle Bromwich during the war.

I miss Mark enormously. We had a few run ins over the years but he was always transparently honest and took the odd rocket with good grace. His talent as a display pilot was enormous and he reached that select body of immortals who have thrilled us all over so many years. Too few in Mark's case.

From time to time, and especially on the 26th September 2004 at Sywell, I remember him and his infectious enthusiasm for all types if vintage aircraft and especially the fighters of all ages. Rest in peace Mark. When we meet again it will indeed be a happy occasion, for me at least.............!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,

Trapper 69
:sad:

[Flying Lawyer]

G-KEST

"We had a few run ins over the years ....."

As I remember, they were when you were wearing your gamekeeper's hat, not your poacher's hat.
I agree about the good grace. Mark was always impeccably courteous, even in circumstances like that - whatever he actually thought. ;)

I think Mark learned the knack (trick?) of showing 'good grace' in such circumstances from his father. On occasions I've heard people having 'a word' with Ray about his display, I've always had mixed feelings - a mixture of amusement and of admiration for Ray's good grace in resisting the temptation to point out that he knew a thousand times more than they did about what was safe and what wasn't.

[RTR]

I spent a number of years of the display circuit but not in the same class as Mark and Ray Hanna, as well as many others too. Mark and Ray were in a class of their own - Ray was IMHO peerless - still is - Mark was seriously close to father in that respect also.

However much they were above us all, they always had the good grace to chat and to respect those of us not endowed with their fantastic skills. Indeed, if Ray or Mark were given a so-called rocket I would have like to have been there afterwards. They would have quitely smiled to themselves and walked away.

Personally, whatever doubtful position I held that gave me the 'right' to berate either of them, I would not have had the cheek. To do so, when they knew more about display flying than any other person, has a distinct sense of absurdity to me.

I too miss Mark. I will miss Ray too, when he finally gives his gloves away - to me please sir. Their visit here has been recorded and archived for others to see in years to come.

[Loc-out]

A very good thread indeed.

I never knew Mark Hanna but like us all, could not help but admire is flying skills.

A sad loss to aviation.

On the subject of wake vortices I am reminded of an accident in NZ in the early '70's.

Mid morning, an agricultural pilot was returning to his base strip. The owner had decided to graze some young cattle on the airstrip, consequently they took some "shifting" by flying over and to one side to clear an area to land. The weather was perfect, frosty and still air (light drift). After 2 - 3 of these runs, just before commencing a "pull up" for a turn, the A/C inexplicably rolled violently though some 70° and the wing tip struck a woolshed, with fatal consequences. The A/C would have been at relatively high speed at the time (i.e. good control response.) The pilot was also very experienced.

The only rational explanation was lurking wake vortices, from previous runs.

[Cosmic Wind]

When Ray finally hangs up his helmet an era of display flying will end the likes of which we will never see again.

Some super comments re Mark Hanna, much missed. Did'nt agree though with the recent comments in Aeroplane in response to the Spainish report, ok authority of the investigators is unknown but they had a great deal of visual and eye witness evidence. Very dangerous precidament to see an individual as 'above making an error'.

[BEagle]

The Spanish report was very diplomatic.......

[Heliport]

The Report says "It is therefore concluded that it is not possible to accurately determine the exact cause of the accident. The most probable cause was a conjunction of some of the hypotheses mentioned ........ ."
Sometimes the cause of an accident cannot be determined and, as in this instance, the one person who might be able to give the answer sadly isn't alive to do so. If accident investigation experts who've considered all the evidence can't conclusively determine the cause(s), it's curious that people who read their report think they know better.

In the absence of conclusive evidence a pilot did make an error, implying or speculating that he did is not only silly but grossly unfair, especially when the pilot is no longer with us to defend himself.

[Alty Meter]

G-KEST

You don't change. :rolleyes:
You still haven't learnt wearing a CAA 'I'm Important' hat might give you power to "rocket" people who know more than you but it doesn't truly cut any ice with them, and some of us remember it came off a bit suddenly as well.

[Hellzapoppin]

I agree Alty Meter

I twice flew with Mark in formation and all I had do was to tell him was what we were going to do - that was all. He was just like his father - superb.

I am aware that one CAA bod 'had a word' with Mark' but it turned in his face when he made himself look silly. The problem is that when you have the cheek to do it, it sticks with you forever! No doubt it is better to say nothing in my view.

[virgin]

You are a twerp G-KEST.
A thread about one of the best display pilots we've had in this country and you try to get some kudos for yourself by telling us you gave him the odd rocket when you were revelling in your 15 minutes of power. It was never going to work when there are pilots here who've been around displays long enough to know who you are and long enough to remember Mark Hanna's exceptional natural talent.
Maybe you were entitled to talk to him if he broke some CAA deskpilot rule but it should be confidential. You'd have more respect if you said you turned a blind eye or at most spoke to him with respect for his ability instead of boasting you gave him a rcoket.

[G-KEST]

I glanced at this thread since it had recent posts and it was one that interested me having known Mark and all the family as friends for decades. I re-read my own post and would not have altered any part of it. The regulatory situation in the UK as set out in the ANO and CAP403 is admired by every country I have flown in and was the basis for the JAR-22 leaflet giving guidance to the JAA countries on airshow regulation. The CAA does inspect a proportion of displays in the UK each year and standards are generally high however if transgressions occur then looking the other way is not an acceptable option though some might think so.
And yes, in my 46 years as an airshow pilot and over 2,300 public display slots I have screwed up from time to time and I have had my fair share of bollockings. All, or very nearly all, richly deserved.
In my 14 years with the CAA the previous experience I had in GA and particularly in the airshow world proved invaluable. After all, they headhunted me into the CAA to be an effective gamekeeper having been a fair poacher for 30 years before that.
Cheers,
Trapper 69

[Hellzapoppin]

G-KEST

Look at it this way.

Flying Lawyer started this thread in memory of Mark. At best it was inappropriate that you should even mention that you gave him a 'rocket.' At worst it was offensive to his memory. Why do it? Had you NOT done so you would not now have comments about how you are remembered.

[BEagle]

Chaps,

I don't think Mark would have taken part in this spat with the ex-CAA person, so perhaps it'd be better to drop this particular theme on this thread. Perhaps it may be more appropriate on another thread?

OK?

[CamelPilot]

I think you are probably right BEagle. I also think all that perhaps needed to be said has been said. So I will leave the thread open so that anyone who may want to add a few words about Mark can still do so.

[Flying Lawyer]

I started the thread in memory of Mark and it's a great pity the comment appeared, but sufficient responses have now been made to it and I agree that aspect is better now dropped.

G-KEST
I'll leave until another thread my response to your claim (frequently made, but almost always by CAA personnel) that the regulatory situation in the UK as set out in the ANO is admired throughout the world.

[InFinRetirement]

Now! I have just got to watch out for that. :eek: :rolleyes:

[G-KEST]

It should be an interesting debate though I cannot match the proven rhetoric of Flying Lawyer whose brilliant style as a barrister few can attempt to challenge; especially in matters aeronautical.

At the present time General Aviation and Historic Aviation is threatened by rather more important matters in the shape of the Single European Sky charging scheme, the proposed requirements for ANSP's within the EU, the arrangements for certification and maintenance of aircraft through EASA, the involvement of EASA in operational and licensing matters and the imposition of mandatory insurance requirements on all EU aircraft from next spring.

My spare time, and in the opinion of she who must be obeyed all of my time, is presently spent trying to tackle these matters that threaten all of us whose passion is private, sporting and recreational aviation in all its facets.

Cheers,

Trapper 69

[old-timer]

What a terrific Aviator & thoroughly nice person,
we all miss you Mark - godspeed,

[Alty Meter]

G-KEST

For heaven's sake, this thread is about Mark Hanna and what he actually achieved in his too short life, not you and your over-inflated ideas of your own importance. Mark would have been entitled to boast about things he did, but he wasn't that sort of guy. Maybe that's one of the reasons he was popular as well as respected. You might want to think about that and then count the number of "I's, my's and me's" in your posts on a thread that's meant to be a tribute to somebody else.
People would have forgiven Mark if he'd boasted because he was a superb pilot and did some special things. You've done lots of Tiger Moth displays. So what. Nobody's interested in reading your pretty unspectacular CV. You're making a fool of yourself trying to make out you're something you're not.
You even try to make out you're a friend of the Hanna's and I know that's not true. Knowing people for a long time and being a friend are different things.

[G-KEST]

Too busy and weary to argue - just read my last post again please.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
:sad:

[CamelPilot]

I am closing this thread after all. It is a great pity that it has become irksome. However, in spite of this and an attempt to inject uneccessary comment, the fact remains that Mark was, and will remain, a star who shone brightly in the field of top echelon display flying. A very very few can make the same claim. God bless Mark.